Slicing machine with feed and conveying mechanism



June 2,1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM INVENTOR.

JOSEPH FOLK BY [M 0 M f M ATTKYs June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM 7 Filed NOV. 5, 1953 9 Sheets-$11eet 2 IN V EN TOR.

JOSEPH FOLK ATT'YS June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. JOSEPH FOLK f/im wym (M M ATT'YS -June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1953 e Sheets-Sheet 4 Fl G: 6

- INVENTOR; JOSEPH FOLK v BY June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. s, 1953 9 ShatS-Sheet a INVENTOR: JOSEPH FOLK ATT'YS June 2, 1959 J, FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1953 E e Sheet s-Sheet e IN VEN TOR.'

JOSEPH FOLK June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1953 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 a: I (l FlG.23@l 1 ,.=m 5H: 1 +4 ,w-1. 1 1|... so N rm Y5 75 :g I I" 1 0 3:; 83 24 I 85 (85 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH FOLK BY @WW June 2, 1959 J. FOLK 2,888,793

SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIG. 27

INVENTOR. JOSEPH FOLK ATT'YS,

June 2, 1959 Y J, FOLK 2,888,793

sucmc MACHINE WITH FEED AND couvzvmc MECHANISM v Filed Nov. 5, 195a -9 shuts-sum 9 INVENTOR; JOSEPH FOLK ,7 ATT'YS W I If:

United States Patent SLICING MACHINE WITH FEED AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Joseph Folk, La Porte, Ind., assignor to US. Slicing- Machine Company, Inc., La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana This invention relates to slicing machines in general, and particularly to slicing machines for slicing a substance, such as meat, and delivering the cut slices to a continuously slice receiving conveyer. More specifically the invention relates to a high speed machine for cutting slabs of bacon into slices, and arranging such slices into overlapping relation in shingle fashion.

The broad adaptation of the invention consists in feeding bacon in slabs intermittently at a high rate of speed to a continuously rotating eccentrically and revolubly mounted slicing knife to sever slices from bacon slabs at an extremely high rate of speed, to wit: 1000 slices per minute. The cut slices fall upon a continuously operating endless conveyer in shingle fashion and are fed by the conveyer to a stationary slide where an operator selects a certain number of slices constituting a certain weight, such as a predetermined number of slices for a half-pound or one pound, depending upon the quantity to be packaged at the time. Paper feed mechanism feeds a sheet of paper (cardboard) from the top of a stack and delivers it on to an intermediate paper feed conveyer where the sheet is held in stationary or rest position, whereupon an operator then removes a given selected number of slices from the line of shingled slices and places them on the sheet. At the time of removal the operator simultaneously trips a release mechanism to permit the group or stack of shingled slices on a sheet to be carried along by the paper feed conveyer. The selected groups on the respective consecutive sheets pass along the intermediate paper feed conveyer to a long continuously operating endless main conveyer where each group is weighed by one of several operators. Should a group be of the proper exact weight, that group and the sheet which underlies the group, is placed on the main conveyer and delivered to the delivery end of the conveyer and then deposited upon a stationary receiving table or support. Groups which may be underweight have a slice or a part of a slice added, and groups which are overweight have a slice or a part of a slice removed. It is thus assured that all packages constitute the proper exact correct weight.

It is highly desirable that each package will contain a certain number of slices for a given weight and therefore, it is preferable that the bacon slab be pressed and formed beforehand. Thus, when a slab of a predetermined width and height is cut into predetermined slice thicknesses, each slice will weigh the same, thereby providing a given number of slices determinative of a certain weight. For instance, some customers prefer a given number of slices to constitute a certain weight, such as eight slices for a one-half pound. Therefore, if

the bacon slab is of a certain width and of a certain height,

the thickness of the slice determines the number of slices to be in a package; and conversely, the number of slices for a given weight will determine the thickness of the slices. Thus, it may be readily determined, for instance,

that eight slices of a determined thickness will weigh.

exactly one-half pound. When such is the case, no addi- 2,888,793 Patented June 2, 1959 have been packaged before, but the speed at which prior machines cut the slices was relatively slow. Also, if the slicing operation was done rapidly, the placement of the sliceson a sheet or wrapper was slow. Inaccuracy of slice thicknesses also occurred and more work and more time were incurred in the weighing and the reconveying operations. Furthermore, prior machines included neither the sequences, nor the speed of feeding, slicing or paper feeding, nor the direct conveying required to permit less operators to package more pounds of bacon in a given time.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, lies in the provision of new and improved means for rapidly cutting slices, for rapidly applying a sheet of paper or other material, such as cardboard, to a receiving position to apply a group of selected slices on the sheet while the sheet is at rest, and for rapidly conveying groups or stacks of slices to be delivered to delivery position.

Another object is the provision of a new and improved stationary slide over which shingled slices are passed so that an operator may select quickly and easily a predetermined number of slices in grouped shingle form and deliver consecutive groups of shingled slices to a transporting and weighing main conveyer.

Another object resides in the provision of an improved feed mechanism for. feeding sheets, one at a time from a stack, and delivering the sheets consecutively to position to receive slices from the delivery end of the slicing machine conveyer. v

A further object consists inthe provision of a slicing machine which is correlated with a slice receiving conveyer, and rapidly feeding consecutive sheets to a receiving station to have a group or stack of slices placed on a sheet in synchronized proper timed relation with the movement of a slice receiving conveyer and the movement of an intermediate conveyer upon which the sheet is fed, supported and later released.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of feed mechanism, including a continuously moving conveyer, for feeding a. sheet from a stack and delivering a sheet to receiving position to have a selected group of shingled slices applied thereon, in timed relation with shingled slices which are being fed from a continuously operating slice conveyer.

A still further object resides in the provision of the arrangement and the construction of the various elements and parts to effect rapid feeding, delivery and conveying of slices, and for permitting removalof selected groups of slices'to be applied to fed sheets and then conveyed to a predetermined position.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the specification which follows.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention, and the views therein are as follows: 4

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a slicing machine associated with conveyer mechanism for feeding slices cut from a substance, such as bacon, and paper (cardboard) feed mechanism forvfeeding shingled slices on astifi piece of paper and delivering-the shingled slices along a constantly moving main conveyer;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged elevational view showing some of the slicing machine conveyer mechanism and some of the paper feed mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a detail fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. 3 and showing some of the structure at the delivery end of the slicing machine conveyer and the receiving end of the paper feed mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view, partly in section, of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of some of the structure of the paper feed mechanism and its conveyer part todeliver sheets (cardboards) consecutively to the point where the slices are fed by the intermediate conveyer feed mechanism from the fingers of a stationary slide which are positioned at the delivery end of the constantly moving slicing machine conveyer;

Fig. 7 is a detail enlarged sectional view, on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and showingthe locking means on the feed roller shaft to prevent back-lash thereof, certain parts being in elevation; v

.Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the clutch and clutch shaft drive mechanism for controlling and operating the clutch shaft upon which the friction paper feed rollers are mounted;

.of the clutch;

Fig. 10 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 11'11 of Fig. 10 and showing certain parts of a oneway' clutch in neutral position;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but showing certam parts of the clutch in advanced or locked position; Fig. 13 is a-detail vertical sectional view on the line I 1313 of Fig. 10, and showing certain of the clutch parts in neutral or non-operating position;

Fig. 14 is a'-detail vertical sectional view on the line 14-'-'14 of Fig. 10, and showing certain of the clutch parts in locked or operating position;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view showing the spring pressed depressible paper support or table inelevation and the manner in which sheets of paper (cardboard) are brought to feeding position;

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of certain ofthe paper feed structure and mechanism, and including the spring-supported sheet feed table;

Fig. 17 is a detail elevational view of one of the paper feed rollers, certain parts being broken away to show the interior construction and arrangement thereof;

Fig. 13 is a detail fragmentary perspective view showingce'rtain of the paper feed and supporting mechanism,

and the manner in which the feed rollers act on the paper;

position;

Fig. 19 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line 19-49 of Fig. 18, and showing the manner in which the supports of the spring urged table top pass through the Fig.20;

Fig. 22 is a detail vertical sectional view of a paper squeeze roll on the squeeze roll shaft to feed sheets of paper to the paper feed conveyer after being fed by the feed rollers, the'view being taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 6;

- Fig. 23 is a detail plan section on the line 2323 of .particularlybacon, into slices.

Fig. 24 is a detail end elevation looking from left to'right of the structure shown in Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a detail elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 25-25 of Fig. 23 and showing in elevation the manner in which the stack guides are supported and urged;

Fig. 26 is a detail top plan view looking in the direction of the arrows 26-26 of Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a detail top plan view of the delivery end of the paper feed conveyer and the receiving end of the long main conveyer, and showing the removable stationary finger unit between the ends of said conveyers;

Fig. 28 is a detail elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 30, parts being broken away to show the removability of the finger unit which joins the paper feed conveyer and the long main conveyer;

Fig. 29 is a detail elevational view of a modified clutch rod tripping device by means of a solenoid for controlling the operation of the clutch mechanism to drive the feed roller shaft;

, Fig. 39 is a detail elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 29 and looking at right angles thereto; and Fig. 31 isa detail elevational view of a micro switch which is adapted to be operated by the stop and release fingers on therock shaft to cause energization of the solenoid shown in Figs 29 and 30.

The invention herein disclosed for the purpose of 7 illustrating the invention comprises a slicing machine 1,

Figs. land 2 for cutting a substance, such as meat, The severed slices fall upon a ,c onti nuously moving slicing or slicer conveyor 2 so that when the slices arrive on the conveyer 2 they will be arranged in overlapping shingle fashion relation.

The conveyer 2 is located adjacent the slicer knife and forwardly thereof, being driven by an operating part of the slicing machine proper. The shingled slices, after leaving the conveyer 2, 'drop onto a downwardly inclined stationary slide device 3, and come to rest against a paper stop and release device on a rock shaft of a paper feed mechanism 4. The latter mechanism also includes a-paper feed, feed conveyer, a paper feed table, and their component parts.

The cut slices are separated manually into groups by an operator who endeavors to determine the proper number of slices which will aggregate a given weight,

- such as the number of slices to equal a half-pound or the feed rollers in this view being in rest or non-operating a pound, depending upon the quantity to be packaged at the time. At the same time the operator selects the number of slices to form a weight group as the slices are passing over the stationary slide device 3. The operator also manually operates the normally stationary rock shaft of the stop and release mechanism to release a sheetof paper (cardboard) from a stack on the feed t bl A selected group of shingled slices is placed on a stopped sheet, which, after being released is transported along the paper feed conveyer part of the paper feed mechanism 4. This intermediate conveyer of the iveyer 5, where the selected spaced groups of slices, on

Fig. 16, and showing the top of the depressible paper sheets:

paper feed mechanism 4 then conveys the selected group of slices on its cardboard backing to a long main contheir respective cardboards, are weighed on weighing scales 6 by operators located at the positions or stances adjacent the scales, as indicated by the numeral 7. The long main conveyer 5 is suitably driven by a motor while the intermediate paper feed conveyer is driven from the main conveyer.

Slicing machine 1 revolublymounted eccentric slicing knife (not shown) which-is mounted in a casing 11 secured to a part of the main frame 8. The gripper or pusher 10 feeds the substance along the table 9 to have slices cut therefrom in rapid succession, the thickness of the slice to be out being determined by feed control mechanism shown and claimed in applicants copending application Serial No. 405,418, filed January 21, 1954. The food pusher may be of any conventional type but is preferably of the kind disclosed in applicants copending application Serial No. 405,419, filed January 21, 1954, now U. S. Patent No. 2,845,970, and copending application Serial No. 390,365, filed November 5, 1953 (now abandoned). After slices are cut by the slicing knife they are deposited in shingle fashion on the constantly moving slicing machine conveyer 2.

Slicing machine conveyer 2 i The slicing machine conveyer 2, Figs. 1 to 4, comprises an endless conveyer belt 12, Fig. 1, which is made up of a plurality of inter-connected spaced angles, preferably made of stainless steel, and is driven by an operaing part of the main slicing machine 1. The conveyer 2 is constantly driven at a rapid rate of speed so that slices as they are cut by the knife will be deposited in overlapping relationship, or shingle fashion. Guides 13 and 14 are mounted on opposite sides of the conveyer and extend inwardly from the conveyer sides. The guides are adjustable, being provided with elongated slots on their upper surfaces and locked in position by nuts so that the slices may be properly guided or centered with respect to the delivery end of the conveyer, causing them to be properly spaced as they reach the delivery end of the conveyer 2 and fall upon the rigid slide 3.

Rigid slice device 3 The slide 3, Figs. 1 to 6, is located immediately forward of the delivery end of the conveyer 2 and comprises a plurality of downwardly inclined spaced fingers 15 having their upper ends curved immediately adjacent the delivery end of the conveyer 2, as indicated at 16, Figs. 3 and 14. The lower ends of the slide fingers 15 are also curved, as indicated at 17, Figs. 3 to 6, so that the slices may be removed easily, and preferably manually, from the slicing machine conveyer 2. The fingers 15 therefore are relatively sinusoidal or S-shaped, the reversely curved upper and lower ends 16 and 17 being connected by a smooth slightly curved or relatively straight intermediate part.

Each finger 15 of the stationary slide device 3 is of the same size, shape and length, and spans substantially the entire width of the conveyer 2, particularly that part of the conveyer 2 which defines the space between the spaced guides 13 and 14. The series of fingers 15 is preferably made of stainless steel to provide for easy cleaning and receive cut slices which are deposited thereon by the conveyer 2. As a number of shingled slices pass along the fingers 15 of the stationary slide 3, an operator removes a certain number of slices from the long line of shingled slices which is indicative of a predetermined weight. These selected slices constitute a group of a predetermined weight, and are separated from the remaining line of slices as the line of slices on the conveyer 2 pass on to the stationary slide 3. During the manual removal of a selected group of slices, constituting a predetermined given weight, they are adapted to be applied onto a sheet of paper (cardboard specifically shown) for transportation along an intermediate conveyer of the paper feed mechanism 4.

Paper feed mechanism 4 The paper feed mechanism 4, Figs. 3 to 6, includes an intermediate, or paper feed, conveyer 18 which is located partially beneath the slicing machine conveyer 2, and extends upwardly therefrom. This conveyer 18 is suitably supported by a suitable supporting frame 19, and adjustably supports the stationary slide 3 by linkage 20 which comprises a. plurality of links adjustably connected to the stationary slide 3 and to the frame 19 to effect the proper adjustment between the slide 3 with respect to the slice conveyer 2 and the paper feed conveyer 18.

The conveyer 13 comprises a pair of spaced pulleys 21 over which laterally spaced endless belts or webs 22 are trained. Each pulley 21 is elongated and extends completely across the conveyer and has a plurality of spaced grooves between flat ridges, the grooves being in alignment with each other to receive the spaced several endless belts 22. The belts 22 are slightly thicker than the depth of the grooves in the pulleys, and have their upper surfaces higher than the flat ridges so that there will be no hindrance of the pulleys with the material which is carried by the spaced belts 22, Fig. 6. i i

The belts 22 are continuously driven, and transport a sheet of paper 23 from a stack 24, Figs. 15 and 16. The sheet 23 comes into engagement with normally stationary stop and release fingers 25 on a rock shaft 26 and holds the sheet 23 in stationary or rest position on top of the moving belts 22. The sheet 23, Figs. 15 and 16, from the stack 24 on a feed table 27, is transported along the belts 22 when the stop and release fingers 25 are manually shifted from normal inoperative position to operative position.

The fingers 25 are secured to the normally stationary rock shaft 26 which is mounted for rocking movement in a part of the supporting frame structure 19 of the intermediate conveyer 18. An arm 28, Figs. 3, 4 and 20, is rigidly connected to the rock shaft 26 and rocked or oscillated when the fingers 25 are manually shifted. Shifting 0f the fingers 25 therefore, causes rocking movement of the operating arm or member 28. The member 28, has a latch finger 29 pivotally mounted thereto near its upper end, as indicated at 30, Fig. 20. The latch finger 29 has free swinging movement but is limited in one direction by a latch stop pin 31, to cause a driving con nection between the latch finger 29 and the latch pin 31. When the stop and release fingers 25 are moved from their normal inoperative rest position to operative position, Figs. 3 and 20, the rock shaft 26 will swing the operating arm 28 in a forward direction and cause the latch finger 29 to come into contact with the fixed pin 31 on the member 28. A latch block 32 is adjustably secured to a clutch rod 33, which will be shifted to the left, Fig. 6, by the latch stop finger 29. The pivoted latch finger 29 therefore moves the latch stop on the block 32 to move the slidably mounted clutch rod 33 forwardly. The forward movement of the latch block 32 pulls the clutch rod 33 forwardly to move an overrunning one-way clutch 34. v

The one-way clutch 34 is normally inoperative and is splined on a feed roller shaft 35 and operates this shaft 35 when the clutch 34 is'operated to locked position by the movement of the clutch rod 33. The feed roller shaft 35 is normally stationary and has a sprocket 36 which idles about the shaft 35, the idler sprocket 36 being driven by a sprocket chain 37 on a driven shaft 33. When the clutch 34 is operated to locked position, the feed roll shaft 35 will be caused to rotate by the clutch mechanism 34. 7

Operation of the clutch 34 is controlled by the fingers 25, and is returned toinoperative or neutral position by an arm 39 of a bell crank 40 which is mounted on a stud shaft to a part of the frame. The lower arm 41 of the bell crank 40 has the clutch rod 33 connected thereto to cause operation of the clutch 34 by the bell crank when the clutch rod 33 is shifted. Each operation of the fingers 25 therefore, moves the bell crank from neutral position to locked position. The locked position occurs when the arm 39 of the bell crank 40 is out of engagement with either of two pins 42 which are spaced apart on the clutch 34, Fig. 9. The shifting of the fingers 25 causes a quick movement to be imparted to the clutch rod 33 which also moves ,the

bell crank arm .39 rapidly to release the arm 39 from one ,of the spaced clutch pins 42. The shifting of the fingers 25 ,,only moves the clutch rod 33 forwardly by the latch members 29, 31 which just click slidingly without return movement .of the rod 33 because the latchfinger 29 pivotson itssupporting pin. The clutch rod 33 is returned freely by a spring 43 which is secured on one end to a part of themachine frame and at its otherend .toa pin 44 on the arm 39 of the bell crank 40, Fig.8. The clutch rod, thus, lifts the arm 39 momentarily out of engagement with a clutch pin 42, but the arm .39 returns instantly in position by the spring 43 to cause engagement with the other clutch pin 42 and again return the clutch to neutral position. The clutch 34 is in locked position when the bell crank arm 39 is out of contact with a pin 42 but is in non-operative or neutral position when the bell crank arm 39 abuts a pin 42. The clutch, therefore, makes only one-half revolution each time the fingers 25 are tripped, and consequently the feed roller shaft is rotated one-half revolution as the same is operated by the clutch 34.

The clutch 34 pe se, Figs. 9 to 15, comprises a hub 45, Fig. 10,. which is freely mounted on the feed roller shaft 35, and has the sprocket 36 secured thereto, whereby rotation of the sprocket 36 causes rotation of the collar 45. The hub 45 has an integral hollow housing 46 formed therein and receives a boss 47 which is fixed to the feed roller shaft 35. The fixed boss 47 is surrounded by a collar 48 extending from a flange 49 and has limitedrotatable movement with respect to the fixed boss 47. The fixed boss 47 and the collar 48 are received within the housing 46 and are all in concentric relationship, as shown in Fig. 10. The integral flange 49, on the collar 48, is located adjacent an outer collar 50 which is fixed to the feed roller shaft 35, and provides means to control the operation of the clutch. Coiled springs 51, 51 each have one end connected to the flange 49 and its other end connected to the outer collar 50, and thus the collar 48 with flange 49 is adapted to be urged in a predetermined direction by the springs 51, 51 to give slight rotative movement to the collar 48. Such rotative movement of the collar 48 will cause rollers 52 which are mounted in slots 53 in the collar 48 to ride up on the flats 54 provided on the fixed boss 47 and cause an impinging action between the fixed collar 48 and the surrounding fixed boss 47. The rollers 52 also impinge against the inside wall of the overhanging housing 46 whereby the sprocket carrying hub 45 will rotate with the fixed boss 47 and the collar 48, the said parts thus being locked together and forming in-etfect a solid connectible unit to drive the feed roller shaft 35.

The clutch pins 42 which are on the flange 49, maintain the parts in neutralnon-operating position so long as thebell crank arm 39 is in contacting engagement with a pin 42. When the arm 39 is moved out of engagement from a pin 42, the springs 51, 51 will shift the collar 49 causing the rollers 51 to ride up on the flats 54, locking the continuously rotating hub 45 to the fixed boss 47 and thus lock the clutch parts together. As soon as the crank arm 39 again engages the following pin 42, the flange 49 will cause the collar 48 to move against the tension of the springs 51 permitting the rollers 51 to fall into the slots 53 and onto the fiats'54, thus returning the parts to normal neutral non-operating position and preventing further rotation of the feed roller shaft 35. As there are two pins 42, the shaft 35 will only rotate 180 to complete one operating cycle.

A disk 55, Fig. 7, is rigidly mounted on the feed roller shaft at the end thereof opposite to the clutch 34, Fig. 6, and .has a pair of oppositely disposed notches 56 on its periphery to engage a tooth 57 on an arm 58. The arm 58 is pivoted at 59 to a stub pin on a part ofthe frame 19. As the shaft-35 comes to rest after being operated by the clutch 34, the tooth 57 will fall into a notch 56 and prevent back-lash of the shaft as the crank arm engages a pin 42 to return the clutch from locked position to neutral position. During rotative feeding movement of the feed shaft 35, the toothwill fall:easily out of a notch, but should any rebound or back-lash tend to occur, the tooth will engage a notch and hold the shaft against rotative movement in a reverse direction.

The feed roller shaft 35, Fig. 6, has fixed thereto, spaced feed rollers 59 to feed the top sheet 23 from a stack 24 each time theshaft is given its periodic half revolution.

The feed rollers 59, Fig. 17, each comprise spaced plates 65 having friction material 61 arranged therebetween, the plates being locked together by bolts passing through the plates and through the center of the friction material. The diameter of the frictional material is greater than the diameter of the plates so that there is exposed an appreciable amount of the friction material extending beyond the periphery of the plates 60. The periphery of the material 61 comprises the gripping portion of the feed rollers 59. The center filling 61 of each roller is cut away arcuately, as indicated at 62, Fig. 17, to provide space into which oppositely disposed rollers 63, 63 are received, being journaled on journal pins 64. The rollers 63 extend above the periphery of the friction material 61 of the feed roller 59, and lie on the uppermost sheet 23 when the feed roller shaft 35 is at rest. The rollers 63, 63 lie on a'sheet 23 during the rest position of the clutch and these ride on the sheet 23 as the feed rollers begin to operate. The rollers 63 slide freely on top of the uppermost sheet 23 of the stack 24, but as soon as the feed rollers 59 have moved, the friction material 61 will impart a quick gripping action to a sheet 23 and feed it forwardly, to the right, Fig. 6, where it will be caused to become impinged by the paper feed squeeze rolls 65 on the squeeze roll shaft-38, Fig.2. The squeeze roll shaft 38 is located adjacent the feeed roller shaft 35 which is driven by a sprocket 66 over which the feed chain 37, Fig. 6, is trained. The squeeze roll shaft 38 has rotative motion imparted thereto by physical rolling contact of the squeeze rolls 65 frictionally engaging the flat ridges of a conveyer pulley 21 between the spaced belts 22. The rotary movement of the shaft 38, which is rotated by the physical contact of the squeeze rolls 65, also rotates the sprocket 66 to drive the chain 37 which in turn drives the sprocket 36 on the feed roller shaft 35. The squeeze roll shaft 38, carrying the squeeze rolls 65, is journaled in bracket arms 67, Fig. 3, which are pivoted to the main frame, as indicated at 68. Springs 69 pull the arms 67 tightly downwardly for proper engagement of the squeeze rolls 65 with the flat ridges on a pulley 21. The sheet 23, as it passes from the feed rollers to the squeeze rolls passes over a plate 70, Figs. 3 and 18, and thus bridges the gap between the feed rollers 59 and the squeeze rolls The rubber peripheries'of the squeeze rolls 65 cause the sheet 23 to be moved on the belts 22. to position against the normally stationary stop and release fingers 25, where the sheet is brought into stationary position for the oper: ator to apply a predetermined number of slices as the shingled slices are passing over the rigid fingers 15 of the slide device 3. As soon as the fingers 25 are depressed manually by the operator, a sheet 23, with the bacon applied thereon, is free to be transported along the belts 22 of the intermediate or feed conveyer 18.

The paper feed mechanism 4, Figs. 15 and 16, which includes the spring-pressed paper support or table 27, may comprise a separate spring-pressed paper support on a rigid table, instead of the entire table being spring urged as shown. The table 27 has its top supported by a plurality of spaced rods 71 which are fastened to the table 27, and these rods are supported by a suitable frame or support 72. The front rods 71 have their upper ends adjustable longitudinally and their lower ends fixed to a cross member which is adjustable longitudinally on the frame 72,.Fig. l6. Springs 73. encircle the rods 71 and engageadjustable stop, collars 74 at thelower ends and urge the table upwardly against stops. The stack 24 of sheets 23 is supported on top of the table 27 arranged beneath the feed rollers 59, Fig; 16, so as to feed the top sheet when the feed drive shaft 35 is given rotative move- -;aports may be in the form of wires connected at 77, Fig.

16, to a foot treadle 78. The foot treadle 78 is pivotally connected at 79 to a rigid part of the table supporting frame 72 whereby downward pressure on the treadle 78 will pull the supports 76 downwardly against the tension of the springs 73 to lower the table 27. A stack 24 of sheets 23 thus may be arranged easily on the table and beneath the feed rollers 59 and between the side paper guides 75. The vertical adjustment of the collars 74 perthe tension of the springs 73 to be increased or decreased according to the size and weight of the stock 24.

The side paper guides 75, 75, Figs. 23 to 26, each comprises a rectangular casing 80 having a strap 81 mounted on a flat rod 82. One rod is rigidly fixed while the other is fixed to a revolubly mounted barrel-like member 83,

, Figs. 23 to 26. The barrel-like member 83 is located with a spring 8311 which urges the barrel 83, to the right Fig. 23, being limited in inward movement by fixed stop pin 84, Fig. 26. The spring loaded barrel 83 resiliently urges one guide 75 against the side edges of the stack 24 and presses it toward the other guide member 75. The barrel 83 is adjustably mounted as shown, and permits the guide to be shifted for adjustment, as well as permitting it to be swung outwardly for easy loading of a stack. The

side guides 75 are positioned to be substantially midway between the front and rear edges of the stack 24. The barrel 83 and the other support for the other guide are movable inwardly and outwardly for adjustable movement, being limited in such movement by slots 85, in a v cross brace 86 of the frame 72, Figs. 23 and 24. The inner faces 75a of the paper side guides 75 are made of relatively soft flexible material and these inner faces are normally spring-pressed outwardly to provide frictional engagement with the side edges of the sheets 23 of the stack 24. These engaging or contacting surfaces are nor- I mally spring-pressed outwardly but may be retracted inwardly for loading purposes. .I shifted inwardly into the casings 80 upon the operation [of a thumb piece 87 which is located at the upper end of each casing 80, Figs. 23 and 24. The paper guides The faces 7511 may be are adapted to be released from their arms 81, Figs. 16

I and 24, by a thumb latch 88.

" After a sheet 23 has had a number of slices of meat placed thereon, and the fingers 25 on the rock shaft 26 are shifted forwardly, the sheet 23 with the stacked slices .thereon are released and are transported .along the belts 22 of the intermediate conveyer 18. During the shifting of the fingers 25 to release a sheet 23 with the slice thereon, the clutch rod 33 is operated to lock the clutch 34. Locking the. clutch starts the feed rollers 59 to feed another sheet up against the fingers 25. The parts are i now again in normal neutral position ready to complete the next cycle of operation of again applying a slice to a sheet while the previous sheet, with the slices thereon, is beingrnoved along the belts 22 of the conveyer 18 for delivery to the main long conveyer 5.

Main long conveyer 5 '18-of the paper feed mechanism 4. One of the pulleys 89 is the driving pulley, while the other is a driven pulley. Only the driven pulley is shown. The pulleys 89 comprise members having spaced shallow grooves to receive spaced belts 90, which like the belts 22, also are made of neodiate conveyer 18 inclines upwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 28.

A stationary transfer guide or conveyer 93, Figs. 27 and 28, is arranged between the pulleys 21 and 89 of the intermediate conveyer 4 and the long main conveyer 5, respectively, so as to permit slices transported along the belts 22 of the conveyer 18 to be transferred onto the belts 90 of the main conveyer 5. In order to effect smooth transportation of the meat slices on the cardboards, from one conveyer to another, the stationary transfer or slide 93 is arranged substantially midway between the pulleys 21 and 89, as shown in Fig. 28. The stationary transfer 93 comprises a pair of spaced rods 94 which are cradled in supports 95 on the inner surfaces of the opposed conveyer connecting plates 91. Spaced fingers 96 are fixed to the spaced rods 94 by welding or otherwise, and form a complete stationary but removable transfer unit to permit easy transfer of slices from one conveyer to the other. The spaced fingers 96 are bent downwardly at each end, as indicated at 97, Fig. 28, the bent ends being arranged in grooves between the belts 90 so as not to interfere with the movement of the belts and to permit easy transportation or' transfer of the slices between the two conveyers.

The extreme forward end of the main long conveyer 5 has a plurality of stationary rods arranged between the belts 90 on the forward pulley (not shown) and incline upwardly a predetermined distance to provide a stationary discharge table or support for the sheets and their slices for removal to a wrapping machine.

The two conveyers 18 and 5, or either of them, may be provided with adjustable belt tighteners 106, Fig. 28. Each of the tighteners may comprise an arm 107 which is pivoted at 108 to a rigid part of a conveyer support. The forward end of the arm 107 has a roller 109 which contacts the upper side of the lower reach of each belt, the weight of the tightener being such that the belts are maintained taut without any slack. One such belt tightener is shown applied to a belt 22 of the intermediate conveyer 18, Fig. 28, but like tighteners may be used on the belts 90 of the main conveyer 5.

Modified clutch control Instead of operating the clutch 34 mechanically, as previously disclosed, the clutch 34 may be caused to operate electrically, Figs. 29 to 31. The operation of the clutch 34 may be controlled by a micro switch 98, Fig. 31, when a predetermined number of slices, or a predetermined amount of weight of substance comes against the fingers 25 on the shaft 26. The weight of slices against the fingers 25 rocks the shaft 26 which shifts an arm 99.

The arm 99, Fig. 31, shifts the lever arm 100, thus making' electric contact by the micro switch. The micro switch 98 is operatively and electrically connected to an electric solenoid 101 by electric conductors in a sheath 102, Figs. 29 to 31. Thus, when the micro switch makes electric contact, the solenoid 101 is energized to move the armature which operates a rod 103 vertically. The rod 103 swings an operating lever 104 to which it is pivoted, and thereby move the outer operating end 105 into engagement with a pin 42 of the clutch 34. The forward or engaging end 105 of the lever 104 acts in exactly the same manner as the engaging end of arm 39 of the bell crank 40, and the engagement of the crank arm 39 with a pin 42 to hold the clutch 34 in neutral position. Therefore, when the micro switch 98 causes energization of the solenoid 101, the solenoid will effect a quick movement to swing the engaging end 105 out of the way of a pin 42 of the clutch 34 to lock the clutch. The rod 103 immediately returns to original neutral position with the end -105 engaging the pin 42. During this cycle of operation,

the feed roller shaft 35 will have been rotated 180 and then again held stationary. The operation of the micro" switch 98 therefore eliminates the use of the clutch rod 33 and the latch and locking means 29 to 33 and the bell crank 40, the pivoted lever 104 acting in-exactly the same manner as the arm 39 of the bell crank 40.

Operation cardboard 23 which rests on top of the webs or belts 22 of the conveyer part 18 of the intermediate or paper feed conveyer 4. The forward or leading edge of the sheet rests against the paper feed fingers 25, and are held in such position until the operator purposely manually depresses the feed fingers 25 in a forwardly direction to rock the rock shaft 26. The shifting of the rock shaft 26 by" depressing the feed fingers 25 releases the sheet 23 with the group of bacon slices thereon permitting a group of shingled slices and its underlying sheet to fall upon the intermediate paper feed conveyer belts or webs 22 and be transported therealong. The depressing of the feed fingers 25 causes turning movement of the rock shaft 26' to which the feed fingers 25 are attached. Rocking movement of the rock shaft 26 swings the rock shaft operating arm 28 in a forward direction to bring the pivoted latch finger 29, 32 into operating engagement with the fixed latch pin 31 and move the block 32 in a forward direction. The forward movement of the block 32 pulls the clutch rod 33 forwardly to lock the Hilliard clutch 34 to the normally stationary feed roller shaft 35. When the clutch 34 is in locked position, the feed roller shaft 35 will be caused to rotate one-half revolution (180), whereupon the feed rollers 59 frictionally engage the upper surface of a top sheet 23 and feed it between the squeeze rolls 65 -which are continuously revolving because of their physical contact with the flat ridges on the intermediate idler pulley 21 over which the spaced conveyer belts or webs 22 train and drive. The clutch 34 is locked in place by a clutch control finger 42 and holds the clutch 34 in neutral position until the clutch rod '33 pulls the lower arm 41 of the bell crank 40, whereupon the other arm 39 of the bell crank 40 moves out of engagement with a pin 42 on the clutch 34. As soon as the arm 39 of the bell crank 40 is out of engagement with a pin 42,

the clutch 34 rotates one-half revolution from neutral -position to locked position and causes rotation of the further effect on the rock shaft 26 until after they have first been released and then again pressed forwardly. One

end of the feed roller shaft 35 has a disk or circular plate 55 fixed thereto in which the tooth 57 on the spring pressed arm 58 engages with either one of the spaced notches 56 to prevent back-lash of the feed roller shaft" 35 after the feed rollers 59 have completed one cycle of operation, a one-half or 180 turn. A clutch stop pin 42, when released from the arm 39 of the feed roller bell crank 40, permits the sprocket 36 to rotate the feed roller a shaft 35 180, after which time the second pin 42 on the clutch 34 again engages the bell crank arm 39 returning the-clutch 34 to neutral, permitting the sprocket 36 to idle on the feed roller shaft 35, maintaining the feed roller j shaft 35 stationary and placing the tooth 57 in a notch "56' in the periphery of the disk orcircular plate 55. The

12 resumption of the next cycle, which is a 180 movement, again causes another cycle of operation. The tooth'57 in the notch 56 of the disk 55, slides freely during rotation of the feed roller shaft 35, but prevents rotation in the opposite direction, thus eliminating back-lash.

The other pulley 21 of the intermediate conveyer 18 7 comprises a series of pulleys all integrally connected together, the'conveyer belt strands 22 being trained over two pulleys, one of which is the driving pulley. There are relatively deep grooves between the pulley sheaves, and these grooves receive the fingers 96 of the transfer slide 93, the fingers 96 being connected to the two rods 94. The rods 94 are removably cradled in supports" or brackets 95 fixed to side plates 91. These plates 91 connect the conveyers 18 and andsupport a pulley 89 of the long main conveyer 5. This latter pulley 89 is; in alignment with the adjacent pulley, and has aligned grooves to receive the forward bent ends 97 of the spaced fingers 96. Therefore, the transition or transfer of groups of bacon from one conveyer to another is made "easy, even though one conveyer may be moving at a different speed rate from the adjacent conveyer, or in cases where the main conveyer is at an angle to the intermediate conveyer, as shown in applicants copending application, Serial No. 405,358, filed January 21, 1954, now abandoned.

The main conveyer 5 has spaced supporting forward and rear belt supporting and driving pulleys 89, eachpulley having grooves in alignment to receive the conveyer belts 90. The grooves are less in depth than the thickness of the conveyer belts 90 so that the grouped articles will not contact the pulley rims. The far, or discharge,

end of the long conveyer 5 has a driving roller or pulley and may have weighted belt tighteners 106.

The far end of the long conveyer 5 has rigid rods (not shown) arranged between the spaced belts, and these rods incline upwardly to form a rest or stationary table, from which the weighed packages may be taken.

After the slices overlying a group of shingled slices leave the intermediate conveyer and are transferred to the main conveyer 5, they are picked up individually by one of the several operators located at the stance positions 7, Figs. 1 and 2. Each sheet and its groupof slices is weighed on a scale 6 to determine the correctness of the weight. If the weight of the selected number of slices is proper, the operator places the grouped slices on'the conveyer. If the package is underweight, the operator adds enough to bring the package to the right weight, but

' should the package be overweight, some of the substance is cut off. The exact correct weight for each package is thus assured. Each group of slices is then conveyed to receiving position where each group is ready to be wrapped.

The invention provides a continuous sequence from the steps of severing slices to a point where the grouped and backed slices are ready for wrapping. The mechanism for carrying out the successive steps is synchronized and correlated so that each part of the mechanism will operate in proper timed relation with its cooperating part.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the v'eyer to be conveyed thereby to discharge position, stationary transfer slide means extending from the discharge end of said first conveyer to said 'second 'conveyera deasssgros said sheet from the holding means, and means operated u on release of the releasable means to feed another sheet. from the stack and transport it along the second conveyer.

2. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and'applied to a sheet fed from a stack'of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices arranged in overlapping position on the conveyer, a continuously operating second conveyer arranged below said first conveyer to receive slices from the first conveyer to be conveyed thereby to discharge position, stationary transfer slide means extending from the discharge end of said first conveyer to said second conveyer a depressible spring urged table adjacent the second conveyer, a stack of sheets mounted on said table, means to feed asheet from the stack onto the second conveyer to be transported thereon, holding means to hold the sheet stationary on the second conveyer at a predetermined position on the second conveyer to have a group of slices to be positioned on the sheet, releasable means to free said sheet from the holdingmeans, means operated upon release of the --releasable means to feed another sheet from the stack and transport it along the second conveyer, said last named-means including normally stationary feed rollers mounted on a feed sheet shaft, and constantly rotating means on the feed shaft for driving the feed shaft upon operation of the release means. 3. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from astack of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices arranged in overlapping position on the com veyer, a continuously operating second conveyer arranged below said first conveyer to receive slices from the first conveyer to be conveyed thereby to discharge position, stationary transfer slide means extending from the discharge end of said first conveyer to said second conveyer a depressible spring urged table adjacent the second conveyer, a stack of sheets mounted on said table, means to feed a sheet from the stack onto the second conveyer to be transported thereon, holding means to hold the sheet stationary on the second conveyer at a predetermined position on the second conveyer to have a group of slices to be positioned on the sheet, releasable means to free said sheet from the holding means, a clutch operable upon operation of the releasable means, a feed shaft upon which the clutch is mounted, feed rollers on said shaft, and constantly rotating means to operate the clutch to rotate the feed shaft when the clutch is operated.

4. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from a stack of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices arranged in overlapping position on the conveyer, a continuously operating second conveyer arranged below said first conveyer to receive slices from a first conveyer to be conveyed thereby to discharge position, stationary transfer slide means extending from the discharge end of said first conveyer to said second conveyer a depressible spring urged table adjacent the second conveyer, a stack of sheet mounted on said table, means to feed a sheet from the stack onto the second conveyer to be transported thereon, holding means to hold the sheet stationary on the second conveyer at a predetermined position on the second conveyer to have a group of slices to be positioned on the sheet, releasable means to free said sheet from the holding means, a clutch operable upon operation of the releasable means, a feed shaft upon which the clutch is mounted, feed rollers on said shaft, constantly rotating means to operate the clutch to rotate "14 the feed shaft when the clutch is operated, means to limit the rotative movement of the clutch, and means to feed another sheet from the stack onto the second conveyer when the clutch is operated.

5. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from a stack of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices arranged in overlapping position on the conveyer, a second continuously operating conveyer arranged below said first conveyer to convey slices from the second conveyer and deliver them to discharge position, stationary transfer slide means extending from the discharge end of said first conveyer to said second conveyer a feed table adjacent one end of the second conveyer, a stack of sheets on the table, normally stationary feed rollers engageable with the uppermost sheet of the stack, a normally stationary feed shaft supporting the feed rollers, a constantly driven member on the feed shaft and rotating thereabout, a clutch on the feed shaft and adapted to drive the feed shaft by the driven member when the clutch is operated, holding means adapted to be shifted to operate the clutch when the holding means is shifted to operate the feed rollers to feed a sheet from the stack onto the second conveyer and against the holding means and to have the sheet transported along the second conveyer when the holding means is shifted, constantly rotating squeeze rolls adjacent the feed rollers and engageable with the second conveyer to drive the squeeze rolls whereby a sheet fed by the feed rollers is fed to the second conveyer by the squeeze rolls and the second conveyer, a constantly rotating third conveyer having its receiving end adjacent the delivery end of the second conveyer, transfer means between the second and third conveyers to transfer slices from the second conveyer to the third conveyer, and means to operate each of said conveyers.

6. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from a stack of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices and arranged in overlapping posiion on the conveyer, a continuously operating second conveyer adjacent the first conveyer, a paper feed table adjacent one end of the second conveyer to receive a stack of sheets, feed means to place a sheet on the second conveyer, said feed means including a depressible upwardly urged feed table to support a stack of sheets thereon, feed rollers engageable with the uppermost sheet of a stack to feed the sheet, and oppositely disposed rollers on said feed rollers having their peripheral edges extending beyond the periphery of said feed rollers.

7. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from a stack of sheets comprising a continuously operating conveyer to receive slices, a continuously operating second conveyer receiving slices from the first conveyer and conveyed thereby to discharge position, a depressible spring urged table adjacent the second conveyer, a stack of sheets mounted on said table, means to feed a sheet from the stack onto the second conveyer to be transported thereon, means for positioning said sheet to receive a group of slices, and means to cause a subsequent sheet from the stack to be transported along the second conveyer after a group of slices has been received on a prior sheet.

8. An apparatus for conveying slices severed from a substance and applied to a sheet fed from a stack of sheets comprising a first conveyer receiving slices as they are severed, a second conveyer adjacent the delivery end of the first conveyer and spaced therebelow, a stationary transfer slide extending from the delivery end of the first conveyer to an intermediate point on the second conveyer for use in transferring slices from the first conveyer to the second conveyer, means for feeding a sheet to the inlet end of said second conveyer ahead of said intermediate point, means beyond said intermediate point for arresting the advance of slices and a sheet on said second conveyer, and means interconnecting said feeding and arresting of'the first conveyer and spaced therebelow, said second conveyer being longitudinally aligned with said first conveyer to'convey in the same direction, a stationary transfer slide extending from the delivery end of the first'conveyer'to'an intermediate point on the second conveyer for use in transferring slices fromthe first conveyer to the second conveyer, a magazine for holding a stack of sheets adjacent said second conveyer, means for feeding one sheet at a time from the magazine and onto the inlet "endof said'second conveyer ahead of said intermediate pointjmeans beyond said intermediate point for arresting the advance of'slices and a sheet on said secondconvey'er, and means interconnecting said feeding and arresting means, Wherebyactuation of said arresting means for permitting the sheet and slices to 'be advanced by said'se'cond conveyer operates said feeding means to feed another sheet to said intermediate point.

I 10. An apparatusfor conveying slices severed from a substanceand appl'ied'to'a sheet fed'from a stack or sheets comprising, a first conveyer receiving slices as they answered, a second conveyer adjacent the delivery end of'thefirst conveyer and spaced therebelow, said second conveyer including a plurality of constantly "moving spaced endless belts, a stationary transfer slide extending from the deliveryend of the first conveyer to anintermediate point on the second'conveyer for use in trans ferring slices from thefirst'convey'er tothe' second conveyerg'means for intermittently feeding one'sheet at a time to'the inlet end of said second conveyer ahead of said intermediate point, means beyond said intermediate point for arresting the advance of slicesand a sheet on said'second' conveyer, and means interconnecting said feedingand' arresting means, whereby actuation of said arresting" meansfor permitting the sheet and slicesflt obe advaficedby "said second conveyer foperates "said "feeding jmeansto feed another sheet to said intermediate "point.

fend 16fthe"first"'conveyer and spaced therebelow, said second conveyer including a' plfirality of constantly 'niovingspaced endless belts, a stationary transfer-"slide" 'ex'- tending from the delivery end of the first conveyefto an intermediate "point on 'thesecondconveyef for use 'intfans ferr' ing'slices "from the first conveyer to the second confveyei', means for intermittently feeding 'onesheet at ia: time to ftli'e i nle't 'end'o'f said second conveyer ahead of said intermediatepointfmeans between said beltsand pr'ot'riiding above fthe upper surface thereof beyond" the. inter mediatepoint"' f or arresting the] advance 'of slicesand sh" n said belts, and means interconnecting saidffeedin nd -arres'tingmeans, whereby actuation o'f'said arrestingf meansforiperm'itting' the sheet and slices to beadvanced 'by said "second" conveyer operates jsaid feeding means't'o fed' another sheet to saidinterniediate' poifit.

References Gited in the n16 ofthis" p'afent' UNITED STATES PATENTS 

